Tag: wedding colors
courtesy of greentreephotography.net
For many years – and I know this to be true because before I worked here, I worked at a wedding dress shop – but for many years, it seemed as though brides looking for could never find anything to purchase that wasn’t strapless… Alas, a far cry from our mothers and grandmothers’ “I do” days where NOTHING was strapless.
And for a woman who was maybe more traditional or simply not comfortable in something so open, her options were almost immediately diminished to next to nothing. Not fun or fair for any bride-to-be.
But every cloud has a silver lining and following the Royal Wedding Explosion of Prince William and Kate Middleton two years ago, the Duchess of Cambridge’s Alexander McQueen dream dress – designed by Sarah Burton – had haute couture designers in awe. Middleton’s now famous dress, composed of silk gazer and hand-tatted lace intricately comprised with shapes representing the countries of the UK, is considered the Rolls-Royce of wedding wear.
courtesy of vogue.com
The knock out gown also featured a 9 foot train and several bling-tastic accessories. And with inspiration like that, designers got the message loud and clear that ALL necklines and sleeve lengths are high fashion… and make for dream come true pieces on and off the runway.
While strapless dresses are still ever present and popular, there has definitely been a shift in designers gowns towards the more demure and traditional. There’s just something to be said for the subtle sexiness; like how most non-strapless gowns somehow incorporate a surprise ooh la la factor… which hands down, has to be my favorite part!
Often times, women feel like the more covered up they are, the dowdier and less sexy they are… but this couldn’t be further from the truth with today’s designers’ modern spin on the traditional wedding dress, the potential is nothing short of extraordinary. With their illusion necklines, backless bodices and figure hugging shapes, I would put some of these gowns against the sexiest styles in existence.
Check out below and see what I mean :)
from Claire Pettibone’s An Earthly Paradise collection…
courtesy of clairepettibone.com
from Tara Keely’s Spring 2013 collection…
courtesy of jlmcouture.com
from Badgley Mischka’s Spring 2013 collection…
courtesy of badgleymischka.com
from Alfred Angelo’s Disney Fairy Tale collection…
courtesy of alfredangelo.com
from Alvina Valenta’s Spring 2013 collection…
courtesy of jlmcouture.com
from Maggie Sottero’s Wedding Dress collection…
courtesy of maggiesottero.com
from Lazaro’s Spring 2013 collection…
courtesy of jlmcouture.com
from Morilee’s Wedding Dress collection…
courtesy of morilee.com
from Jim Hjelm’s Spring 2013 collection…
courtesy of jlmcouture.com
from Sophia Tolli’s Wedding Dress collection…
courtesy of sophiatolli.com
from Amsale’s Fall 2013 collection…
courtesy of amsale.com
and finally, from Monique Lhuillier’s Spring 2014 collection! (that’s right ladies, this look is DEF here to stay!)…
courtesy of moniquelhuillier.com
May 16, 2013
photos courtesy of confettidaydreams.com
Ahhh, lace. A fixture in the wedding world since the dawning of “I do,” this intricate overlay is not only a detail with staying power, but it’s practically the signature for bridal royalty and vintage couture everywhere.
But in 2013, it’s proving to be one of the biggest go-to’s for bridal fashion and wedding design just about everywhere! According to Erika Pitera of borrowedandbleu.com – an online resource for one of a kind brides looking for one of a kind weddings – there is nothing more lovely than lace for the 2013 bride. In a recent interview with The Top 100 Wedding Blogs, she stated:
In my opinion, we are going to see a lot of lace in 2013. Lace has been a mainstay in bridal fashion for centuries, but it seems to be making a huge a comeback righ now with modern brides. From full on lace dresses to just a touch here and there to accent a dress, lace has already started to appear all over the runway. (Pitera, weddingblogs100.com)
And we all know nothing gets noticed faster than when it has a presence within the designer district of haute couture. Pitera continues:
Many designers will be showcasing classic wedding gown with lace details like lacy cap sleeves, illusion necklines, contrasting color lace and more in the Spring 2013 collections. (Pitera, weddingblogs100.com)
Her favorite thing about lace – and I think I’d have to agree – is that it doesn’t just have to be for the dress. It can be applied to the everything from your invites and wedding cake to your centerpieces and bouquets. In fact, it’s the versatility of lace that is what has given it such a powerful place in weddings for years. Check out below for some of the of the most fashion forward – not to mention some of my FAVES! – lace wedding gown from famed wedding dress designers 2013 Spring & Fall Collections:
from the Alvina Valenta 2013 Spring Collection.
courtesy of jlmcouture.com
from the Jim Hjelm 2013 Spring Collection.
courtesy of jlmcouture.com
from the Lazaro 2013 Spring Collection.
courtesy of jlmcouture.com
from the Maggie Sottero Bridal Gown Collection.
courtesy of maggiesottero.com
from the Monique Lhuillier 2013 Fall Collection.
courtesy of moniquelhuillier.com
from the Sophia Tolli Bridal Gown Collection.
courtesy of sophiatolli.com
from the Vera Wang 2013 Fall Collection.
courtesy of verawang.com
May 9, 2013
courtesy of onewed.com
In light of Tuesday’s post: Pattern Solving 101: 2013 Weddings are WILD about Prints, I couldn’t very well open the door to its magnificence without walking through the power it has over wedding dresses too! That’s rights, ladies and gents, 2013 is all about wedding gowns featuring a little extra something something when it comes to their prints and patterns, and after further review, I have no choice but to give this trend two thumbs way, WAY up :)
I mean, I still get celeb-envy whenever I think about Jessica Biel’s wedding dress from her nuptial celebration to Justin Timberlake back in October. Of course, it’s not just the dress to be envious of… <insert my favorite, former boy bad stud here>… *droooools* (MARY!! Contain yourself! PLEASE!)
Okay, I’m back :)
Anyhoot, hubby love aside, it was Jessica’s dress that truly had heads turning and eyes popping! Who can forget the cover of People Magazine’s November 5, 2012 issue where Suit & Tie clad JT and Jessie B. graced us with what is no doubt a knock out gown??
courtesy of People Magazine
Patterned, pink and unbelievably pretty, the now Mrs. Timberlake won rave reviews for her avant-garde gown choice, and it’s not difficult to see why! In an interview with Elle Magazine, Biel opened up to her bold choice:
“I wanted the dress to be very romantic and feminine and a shape that I very rarely wear. I have never been crazy about all-white wedding dresses, for me at least. [Giambattista Valli] had created that same fabric in a fuchsia-and-pink combination for a dress in a previous collection, and I asked him if he could create that same pattern in a white combination, and he suggested pink. It was a bit of a leap of faith at the time, but it turned out better than I could have ever imagined. [Putting it on], I felt like I had made the right choice. I felt elegant. And it moved like a dream.” (Elle Magazine Interview, courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
Now, I know their are grandmothers out there – heck, there are even modern day brides with an affinity for all things traditional – that probably think this is the worst, most over-the-top idea ever! However, I’m not so sure :)
I think of how much even a “traditional” wedding dress can have going on, even if the overall color (or lack there of) is white and white only. From beading and lace overlays to fabrics, structures and cuts, some of the most traditional gowns already take on the look of a print or pattern. Depending on the style of bead or lace work and even the construction of the dress itself can create a type of pattern or print look already. Maybe they don’t have the color to accompany them, but the patterned bones of their more colorful counterparts are most definitely already at play!
Still hesitant? Check out below for some of my favorite patterned dreams and see if things don’t change… even if just a little :)
courtesy of brides.prestonbailey.com, Atelier Aimée via weheartit.com, Atelier Aimée via weddinginspirasi.com, weddinginspirasi.com, bowtiesandbliss.com, weddinginspirasi.com , glamour.com, zakolkavrn.ru (insert), brides.prestonbailey.com, weddinginspirasi.com, brides.prestonbailey.com and eweddinginspiration.com
April 18, 2013
photo courtesy of Belle Bridal Boutique’s facebook page
I gotta be real honest with y’all – as if you’d expect anything less :) – but I’m not sure the wedding market has it right when it comes to bridal couture. For instance, anyone who has ever visited a bridal gown store will know that one of the first things they tell you is that most dresses are “cut small.”
“What?” you ask.
This means that most wedding dress designers follow patterns that cause brides to have to go UP a size… and in some more traumatic cases, maybe even two or three!! Trust and believe, lovelies, I know how ridiculous this sounds, but it doesn’t make it any less real.
The number one reason this is so ridiculous is because women are clothes tag Nazis. What? We are. We can’t help it. There’s just something confidence-boosting about being an 8, rather than a 10… even if we have to lay down, suck in, lose a rib and <squeeeeezzze> every last, ever loving roll into place in order to make it happen. In this instance, we are all the wicked stepsisters of Cinderella… simply trying to fit our over-large feet into an uber small slipper…
photos courtesy of animatedfilmreviews.blogspot.com
Yep. That’s us. I realize to men – and even some women – this makes absolutely no sense, but that doesn’t make it any less true :) So why?? OH WHY? On the one day when a girl is supposed to feel her most beautiful, would bridal gown designers make them start with an extra large strike already? Ugh.
A strike that is further outraged by the fact that the majority of sizes bridal dress retailers carry are – on average – 8′s and 10′s, which according to bridal boutique etiquette, puts them closer to a 4 or a 6. Really, bridal world… really???
I don’t know about you, but I don’t know a lot of girls who would fit this “norm.” Sure, they have other sizes, but brides who, like me, might have a little extra somethin’ somethin’ will definitely struggle to get a good fit. And that’s not the kind of gloom and doom any girl needs on her dress shopping day!
Hence, why I LOAF anything and everything about a place who takes this theory of caution and throws it to the wind, and no place could do it better than Belle Bridal Boutique!!!
Located in Bellevue, KY – right outside Cincinnati, the privately owned, mother / daughter wedding dress store features fashions for the festively (& fabulously!) plump, and they make it their number goal to ensure every bride gets her Cinderella Experience. And I know this, because I witnessed their awesomeness firsthand :)
A couple months back, I had the privilege of accompanying my gorgeous (seriously, kids, girl has a face for poetry!), future sister-in-law, Jamie, on her dress shopping day. I was more than happy to make the 2 hour trip to Bellevue, and just when I thought I couldn’t be more excited to be surrounded by rows and rows of blinged-out bridal couture, we made it to the store itself… and my happiness soon escalated to straight ecstatic frenzy! I’m not kidding :)
Stacey, the daughter portion of the mother / daughter duo, met us with mimosas and smiles, and it was nothing but ahhhh(to the)mazing onward! Jamie got to try on dress, after dress – most of which had to be tugged back and clipped in due to access fabric, and spent the entire afternoon twirling, swirling and showing off in some of the most beautiful dresses ever!
Not to mention, we were the only ones there, which only made the pampered experience even more special. At Belle Bridal Boutique, they work by appointment only; so, there was never a need to share the space with anyone else. It was a very intimate, very sweet time for celebrating. We were never rushed or hurried and literally spent our entire afternoon sipping on champagne goodness and enjoying Jamie’s dress shopping experience.
An experience which left her feeling fabulous, beautiful, and most especially, comfortable!!
And who can say that when it comes to any experience including a fitting room? Um, practically no one! This kind of pleasantry made me start thinking how wonderful it would be to have more stores following this concept!! After all, it’s a great idea… and there’s npothing better than when a great idea turns into an even better business :)
So, I’d just like to say cheers to Stacey, her mom – Henrietta and all the beautiful memories and brides they’re making at Belle Bridal Boutique!
Oh! And if anyone other bride has locations of similar plus size bridal stores, please feel free to leave them below!
February 21, 2013
courtesy of Blush via jlmcouture.com
Now I know at least one pretty lady (wad up, Carolyn – our fearless MK leader) who won’t be happy about this trend, but I gotta admit, I kind of dig it :)
Sure, it’s not traditional in the least, and it would take just the right bride to pull it off… but some of the colorful results are nothing short of spectacular! According to Brides Fashion Director, Rachel Leonard, “You don’t have to wear a white wedding dress anymore, but it still has to look like a wedding dress. The trick is to find a color that’s flattering on your skin tone, and not everyone looks good in white.” (brides.com)
I mean, heeeellllooooo?!?! It seems so simple. Sure, tradition would have every bride pinned in white, but what tradition doesn’t understand is that some ladies simply don’t feel sexy in it. And shouldn’t every bride get to feel beautiful on her big day? I think YES!
So, bring on the colorfully carefree bridal gowns and see how some of today’s biggest designers put a more vibrant pallette to work!
Vera Wang. While her entire Fall 2013 bridal line is chalk full of deep blush tones and black, her Spring 2013 line is filled with color in HD!
courtesy of verawang.com
Oscar de la Renta. It’s all about ice blues and red hots in Oscar’s 2013 Spring Bridal Collection, and looking at these pups strut, I can see why!
courtesy of oscardelarenta.com
Demetrios. Lavender blue dilly dilly dilly, lavender green… and all the other pastel colors in between can be seen in Demetrios’ bridal line!
courtesy of demetriosbride.com
Douglas Hannant. And don’t forget about patterns… they’re no longer just for bridesmaids as Douglas Hannant’s Spring 2013 Collection shows!
courtesy of douglashannant.com
May 3, 2012
courtesy of lifeworkmediablog.wordpress.com
Drape them on your chairs. Tie them up in trees. Dangle them from ceilings. Cinch them in bouquets or simply let them fly free… but no matter what, be sure your big day celebration gets some serious use out of do-it-yourself ribbons!
According to the founder of Style Me Pretty, Abby Larson, “Ribbon details are huge right now.” She says, “Draped off the back of Chiavari chairs or hanging in a colorful line from a dessert table, ribbon is a cheap and gorgeous way to add that pop of color.” (glo.msn.com) And we couldn’t agree more!
With their cheap cost and whimsical appeal, brides and grooms everywhere are learning just how beautiful ribbon decorating can be! And because they come with such a punch of DIY status, you’ll really have fun seeing what kind of decor you can come up with next :)
It can be as monumental as canopying the entire ceiling of your reception hall with their silky goodness or as simple as creating small ribbon wands for guests to wave… truly the choice is up to you. See some inspiration below:
photos courtesy of (from left to right, top to bottom) amysallthingswedding.com, decorationideas.wordpress.com, amysallthingswedding.com, intimateweddings.com, mydreamweddingceremony.com, mydreamweddingceremony.com, elizabethannedesigns.com, emmalinebride.com, filledwithheart.wordpress.com, theknot.com (insert), prettypetals.typepad.com and wtfimalmostthirty.blogspot.com
April 5, 2012
courtesy of threenailsphotography.com via greenweddingshoes.com
Many years ago, a small-framed girl with a booming voice stepped out in pigtails and curls and belted out:
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high. There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
And if dreams that you dared to dream really do come true somewhere over the rainbow, what better place to test that theory than on your wedding day??
That’s right, my little chick-a-dees, bold brides everywhere are choosing color, color and more color to accompany their wedding day themes, and I must say – after further inspection – I can really see why.
In all fairness, I was originally turned off by this all inclusive idea. Being a fan of the less is more approach, I have a tendency to not always see “more as better,” but simply “more.” However, after conducting my old standby investigative Google research, I’m happy to report I was pleasantly led into a world of “ooh la la.”
When you take the colorful theme and weave it into a DIY, nature-enfused, woods-inspired atmosphere, it radiates a feeling that is beyond reproach and incredibly hard to miss.
all photos courtesy of threenailsphotography.com via greenweddingshoes.com
But for the even bolder brides… you can take the rainbow theme to even more vibrant levels and leave no detail left in the dull and REALLY let color shine!
photos courtesy of (from top to bottom, left to right) bohocircus.typepad.com, raspberrytart.tumblr.com, brides.com, racksandmooby.blogspot.com, iftheringfits.blogspot.com, boards.weddingbee.com, bridalmusings.com, diazdays.blogspot.com and etsy.com
Either way, it really is an interesting concept, and one most definitely worthy of a share :) After all:
Someday I’ll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops… that’s where you’ll find me :)
April 3, 2012
courtesy of weddingwindow.com
Huffington Post’s Kara Reinhardt reported 7 tips on how brides can budget on their wedding gown shopping, and they were soooo good I knew I had to share! She makes her money as editor of Cheapism.com; so, you can imagine, she’s quite the expert :)
Check out below and see how some brides choose to save and still stay sassy on their wedding day:
1. Consider a bridesmaid dress in white. A sales consultant at a salon may not volunteer this option, but many elegant designs come in an array of colors — including white or ivory. If you prefer a clean, simple silhouette to a full skirt and sequins, a bridesmaid dress could play a starring role for the cost of a supporting player.
I actually had a friend who did this – wad up, Leah! Not only did she looked absolutely b.e.a.uuuutiful on her wedding day, but she OBVS saved moolah on the gown; therefore broadening up her budget on other areas!
courtesy of Leah Matis
2. Plan a less formal event. If you imagine yourself at the altar in a cathedral-length veil, skip ahead to the next tip. But couples open to an outdoor wedding or any other casual setting can save a lot on attire. A lightweight dress for a beach ceremony is likely to cost far less than yards of embellished silk satin.
3. Seek out sample sales. Bridal salons offer big discounts a couple of times a year to clear out sample dresses, selling them as is. You may cringe if you’ve seen scenes of brides-to-be lunging at piles of marked-down gowns. But things may be more civilized at a local salon — some even take appointments during these sales. Ask about upcoming events and sign up for email lists.
4. Don’t overlook department stores. Off-the-rack retailers such as J. Crew and Ann Taylor have become go-to sources for brides on a budget, offering attractive styles and prices. But department stores have also embraced the bridal business. Cheapism found that Nordstrom is one of the best places to buy a cheap wedding dress. You can order online or make an appointment with a wedding stylist at select locations. Bloomingdale’s and Lord & Taylor also feature “wedding shops” on their websites. The dresses don’t take months to come in and can be returned.
5. Don’t assume mass-market means cheap. While these retailers set prices as low as a few hundred dollars, sticker shock is still possible. Most styles by BHLDN — the Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie wedding brand — carry four-figure price tags, and the most expensive is $6,000. Bebe is introducing a bridal collection expected to start near $1,000. Many salons carry lines that start well below that level.
6. Give secondhand sources a chance. You may balk at consignment shops and classified websites, despite the alluring prospect of a designer gown at a discount price. But sites such as Recycled Bride and Encore Bridal often feature new and sample dresses as well. New dresses don’t necessarily carry the bad karma of a called-off engagement, either. One bride is selling a $1,430 Mikaella for $600 on PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com because she switched to an outdoor venue and a simpler dress. My own bargain was hiding in the basement of a bridal consignment shop and could be ordered in my size. The experience came complete with a pedestal in front of a mirror, an attentive sales consultant, and a tearful sister-in-law exclaiming, “This is just like ‘Say Yes to the Dress’!”
7. Choose a color other than white. At New York’s bridal fashion week this fall, none other than wedding dress doyenne Vera Wang showed not one white or ivory gown. Many of her designs were black (can you believe it?), but even blush could help you sidestep the markup on anything labeled bridal. White isn’t always the easiest color to wear, and a different shade might better complement your skin tone. If you’re the type of woman who likes to turn heads, refraining from white is a surefire way to make a statement with your wedding gown.
(Kara Reinhardt, huffingtonpost.com)
March 13, 2012
courtesy of fiftieswedding.com
Happy Valentine’s Day to all those who love! Whether you’re in it or out of it, love truly is all around us, and there’s no better day to exploit it (or try and avoid it, haha!) than February 14th!
Personally, I’ve always been a fan of the big V-day… even during my most single and sullen of days, I learned quickly to appreciate the holiday as one to simply celebrate love… in all its forms! The love I have for that someone special. The love I have for family. The love I have for friends. Etc. Heck, if nothing else, it’s a day to simply celebrate the fact that mailboxes are a little more full with pink and red cards and stomachs with pink and red cupcakes. Yum-may.
And with all the pink and red being displayed – from store front to home front - I couldn’t help but think about two-toned weddings and just how b.e.a.uuuutiful they can be — and in today’s Cupid themed case, just how b.e.a.uuuuutiful Pink + Red can be! Be sure to not only check out the images below, but also take some time to spread the love to someone today! After all, it is in giving that we receive :)
photos courtesy of (left to right, top to bottom) lovefromtheoven.com, halterneckwedding.onsugar.com, jessicalewisphoto.com, blog.celeb16.com, colorsareblushandbashful.blogspot.com, thestylishbloom.com, blog.paper-source.com, etsy.com, sophistimom.com and flickr.com
February 14, 2012
Kirsten Dunst as Betty Warren in 2003's Mona Lisa Smile. (courtesy of blue-ray.com)
So, I must confess I thought about this budding re-trend while flipping through the channels last night after coming across the wedding scene from 2003′s Mona Lisa Smile. Starring Julia Roberts and Kirsten Dunst, the movie itself is mediocre at best, but the wedding scene is undeniably amazeballs.
Kirsten Dunst, who plays Betty Warren — a viciously rotten, wanna-punch-her-in-the-face type character – has an uncanny way of looking incredibly breathtaking while remaining painfully irritating. Even though her character’s a real hoe’s beast, Dunst still looks fiercely fabulous in her bridal best… but how could this be?? How could such a hard personality create such a soft silhouette??
Well, with an illusion neckline, of course!!
Like any good fashion trend, I’m referencing this one as a “re-trend” because it’s already had a killer past… currently has a fantastic present and will undoubtedly continue with an incredible future. Hence why this trendtastic retro rewind has become one of my faves! And there’s no area I love to see a fave trend embraced more than (drum roll, please)… the wedding gown!!! Duh!
Because the illusion neckline creates a sort of subtle drama, it’s perfect for bridal royalty… and I mean that for seriously too! Several Princesses – including but not limited to – Grace Kelly, Princess Consort of Monaco; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and Mia Thermopolis (played by Anne Hathaway in Disney’s The Princess Diaries), Princess of Genovia, haha, used this trend impeccably while they dishing out the ‘I do’s'! Even celebrity royalty like Ivanka Trump, Princess of the man with serious hair issues, couldn’t resist a sheer neckline to celebrate her nuptial debut :)
from top, Grace Kelly, Kate Middleton, Ivanka Trump and Anne Hathaway (courtesy of whiteweddingdresses.onsugar.com, 100worldnews.blogspot.com, the-weddingdresses.com and hotflick.net)
All these princesses knew the importance of creating a killer illusion, and it’s no wonder why so many designers are jumping on board this bridal trend. Check out below and see some of my faves from their 2012 Spring and Fall Collections!
courtesy of (top to bottom, left to right) Alita Graham, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Alvina Valenta (inset), Elizabeth Fillmore, Priscilla of Boston, Monique Lhuillier (one shoulder), Alvina Valenta (inset), Lela Rose, Reem Acra and Marchesa via brides.com
December 29, 2011
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